Muffler



C. PETERS sept. 7, 194s.

MUFFLER Filed March ll, 1946 r/lfg /N VEA/roe CARL PETERS ATTORNEY FIG. 4.

Patented Sept. 7, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE .MUFFLER Carl Peters, St. Louis, Mo.

ApplicationMarch 11, 1946, Serial' No. 653,651

8. Claims. 1

rihis invention relates generally to mulers, or silencers, and more speoically to; devices ,ofrthis type which are adapted for. use insilencing-the noises resulting from the operation of internal combustion enginc-zs,` the. predominant object lof the invention being to provide a Ymuffler of the type mentioned which, because .of its improved construction and arrangement, is capable oilperforming its intended function in an improved and highly eflicient manner.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved muiiler of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on an, enlarged scale which is taken through the muffler shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal.sectionA takenv on, the staggered line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken .on linev 4-.4 of

Fig. 2.

ing l of the muiiier A is shaped as is shown` in Fig. e, and said outer housing-includes. an end member 2 which closes one ,end of said; outer housing, and an end member; 3 which closesthe opposite end of said outerk housing. The -end member 2 is provided with amarginalfiiangef 2 y and the end member 3 1S provided Awith asimilar marginal iiange 3', said/marginal flangesff and 3 overlapping and embracing Opposite end portions of the wall of the body portionl of the outer housing of the mufiier and said marginal .ilanges being welded, or otherwise secured to said .wall of said body portion of the outerhousing; so. as to secure the end members 2 and 3.in place with respect to the body portion of the outer housing. The end member 2 has formed thereon, or fixed thereto, a tubular inlet elementA Whichcommunicates with the interior of the outerv housing of the muilier, and the end member 3 has ,formed thereon, or iixed theretoa tubular outlet element 5 which also communicates with .theinterlorof the outer housing of the muilier.

Arranged within the outer housing. I, of the muiiler A is a plurality of partitions which serve to divide the interior of said outer housing .into

a plurality of passageways. Thepluralityforpar-g Aof the muffler lA. The plurality preferably by being welded thereto. site end of the partition il is secured 2 titions referred to include ya partition 6 anda partition i which are providedl with innerend portions 6 and 'l' which are curved towardeach other and meet at the point designated bythe reference character 3 in Fig. l in abuttingrelation, said abutting ends of said curved portions 6' and 'I' of the partitions 5 and 'l beingwelded, or otherwise secured together. At the ends of the partitions 5 and 'l opposite to the ends thereof which are curved toward each other, said` partitions are provided with flanges 9 and I0 which contact with the inner face of the end member v2, and which are welded or otherwise .secured toA said end member 2. Also, the partitions- 5 and 'I are provided with flanges lI andv I2 at the topsand bottoms thereof, as is shown to good advantage in Fig. 4, which Contact with the inner faces of the upper and lower walls of the body portion of the outer housing i of .the muf- Vfier A, said flanges being secured to said upper Y and the flange I 5 being secured to the .innerfface of the curved portion l of the partition T. Preferably, the flanges il and I5 of the partition 4I3 -are secured to the end member .'2l and thehourved :portion l of the partition 'I by being Welded thereto, and, also, the partition i3 -is provided with flanges I6 at its top and bottom whichare secured to the inner Vfaces of the upper and lower walls of the bodyportion of the outer housing 0f pariiiens,

which are referred to above as being located `'within the outer housing of the muiiier A, includes a partition I'I which is interposed betweenthe partition 6 and a curved side wall of the outer housing of the muiiler, said partition II being provided with a ange i il at its forward endwhich is secured to the inner face of the4 end member,A 2, "Ivhe oppo by welding, andsaid parle atA its 1 top or otherwise, to the end member 3, tition l'l is provided with-anges Vand bottom which are secured to the inner Efaces of the upper and lower walls ofthe bodyportion of the outer housing of the muffler.

.By referring to Fig. 2 it will be noted .thatfthe partition 6 is imperforate throughout its length, and that the partition I3 has formed` therethrough a multiplicity of spaced apertures 20 which extend throughout the entire length, and

3 width of said partition I3. Also, it will be noted that the partition 1 is imperforate throughout its length except for a row of apertures 2l formed therethrough which are located immediately adjacent to the end member 2, and that the partition I1 has formed therethrough a multiplicity of spaced apertures 22 which extend throughout the entire length and width of said partition I1. It Will be noted, also, by referring to Fig. 2, that because of the arrangement of the partitions 6, 1, I3, and I1 a plurality of passageways are provided within the outer housing I of the muier A; there being a passageway 23 between the partitions 6 and I3, with which the inlet element A communicates, a passageway 24 between the partitions 1 and i3 which is placed in communication with the passageway 23 by the apertures 20 of the partition I3, a passageway 25 between the .partition 1 and an adjacent side wall of the outer housing I of the muifler, a passageway 26 between the partitions E and I1, a curved passageway 21 between the curved inner end portions 6 and 1 of the partitions 6 and 1 and adjacent portions of the outer housing of the muiiler which places the passageways 25 and 2t in communication with each other, and a passageway 28 between the partition I1 and an Iadjacent side wall of the outer housing of the mumer which is placed in communication with the passageway 25 by the apertures 22 of the partition l1, and with which passageway 28 the outlet element 5 communicates.

In assembling the improved muffler, the partitions 6, 1, I3, and I1 are welded to the inner face of the end member 2 at the anges 9, and IB of said partitions, the ends of the curved portions 6 and 1 of the partitions E and 1 being welded in abutting relation, and the inner end of the partition I3 being welded to the curved portion 1 of the partition 'i at the flange I5 of said partition I3. The partitions 6, 1, I3, and I1 of the assembled partitions and end member 2, are then introduced into the outer housing I of the muffler, which has the end member 3 welded in place with respect thereto, and the assembly is moved longitudinally of said outer housing until the flange 2 of the end member 2 reaches a position where it embraces the forward end portion of the wall of the body portion of the outer housing of the muler. The upper and lower walls of the body portion of the outer housing of the muffler have formed therethrough a multiplicity of apertures 29 which are so located and arranged that said apertures are spaced longitudinally of the flanges EI, partitions 6, 1, I3, and I1, and welds 30 (see Fig. are formed in the apertures 29 which secure the flanges of said partitions to the walls of the apertures. The ange 2' of the end member 2 is Welded to the wall of the body portion of the outer housing of the mufiier, and the rear edge of the partition l1 is welded, or otherwise secured, to the inner face of the end wall 3 of the outer housing of the muiiler through the outlet element whereupon the muiiier is completely assembled and ready for use.

In the operation of the improved muffler, exhaust gases, issuing from an internal combustion engine with which the muiiier is associated for use, are discharged into the muii'ler through the inlet element l in the form of successive pressure pulsations and accompanying sound waves. The gases and sound waves entering the mufer pass into the passageway 23 and pass therefrom through the multiplicity of apertures formed I2, I6, and I9 of the through the partition I3, into the passageway 24, said gases and sound waves being divided into a great number of parts because of their passage through said apertures 20. In the passageway 24 the direction of travel of the gases and sound waves is reversed, and various parts of the divided gases and sound waves are compelled to travel longer distances than other parts of the divided gases and sound waves, to reach and pass through the apertures 2l formed through the forward portion of the partition 1. The gases and sound waves are again divided by passage Vthrough the apertures 2l and their direction of way 21 to the passageway iio'w is again reversed, said gases and sound waves moving rearwardly through the passageway 25 and, passing through the curved passage- 2.9 whereby the direction of travel of said gases and sound waves is again reversed. The gases and sound waves pass from the passageway 2B through the multiplicity of apertures 22 formed through the partition I1, whereby they are again divided into ay number of parts, said gases moving into the passageway 28 wherein their direction of travel is again reversed, and wherein various of the divided parts of the gases and sound waves are caused to travel longer distances than other parts thereof to reach the discharge end of the outlet element 5.

In the use of the impr-oved muffler disclosed herein, the breaking up of the gases and the accompanying sound waves into many parts, and the forcing of the: various divided parts of the gases and sound waves to travel various distances in the passageways 24 and 28, as has been explained, together with the repeated reversal of the direction of flow of said gases and sound Waves, has a very eiective silencing effect on the sound waves which causes the muler to perform its intended function in a highly effective manner. Also, an important feature of the improved muiiler which aids in the efficient performance of the function of the muflier is that wall portions of all of the passageways of the muiller through which the gases and sound waves pass are exposed to the outer atmosphere. As a result of this situation the exhaust impulses of the gases passing through the muffler are cooled and weakened during such passage of the gases. Additionally, because the lower portion of the outlet element 5 is in horizontal alinement with the lower portion of the passageway 28, as is shown in Fig. 2, moisture will be freely discharged from the muiiier so that trapping of said moisture within the muiiler is avoided. With regard to the apertures 20, 2l, and 22 in the partitions I3, 1, and I1, respectively, it is pointed out that these apertures are of suflicient size so as to avoid production of excessive back pressure which would affect eflicientV operation of the engine with which the muiiier is associated, and also, the apertures 20 and 22 of the partitions I3 and I1 are so disposed that location of a multiplicity thereof in any one vertical line is avoided.

I claim:

l. A muffler comprising an outer housing, and a plurality of partitions arranged within said outer housing which divide the interior of the mufer into a plurality of communicating passageways through which gases and sound waves accompanying said gases pass, there being a centrally located passageway which receives gases and sound waves entering the muffler, opposed intermediate passageways at opposite sides of said centrally located passageway, opposed outer passageways located outwardly of said intermediate passageways from one of which gases are discharged from the muffler, and a connecting passageway which connects said outer passageways, the partition located between said centrally located passageway and one of said intermediate passageways` and the partition between the other of said intermediate passageways and the other passageway from which gases are dischargedfrom the muffler each having a multiplicity of apertures formed therethrough which are distributed over a substantial surface portion thereof and through which gases and accompanying sound waves pass, and the partition between the other of said outer passageways and the adjacent intermediate passageway having apertures formed therethrough only adjacent to an end thereof, the arrangement and relation of said passageways and the disposition of the apertures of said apertured partitions being such that the direction of travel of gases and sound waves passing through the muiiler is repeatedly reversed.

2. A muiiier comprising an outer housing, and a plurality of vertically disposed partitions arranged within said outer housing which divide the interior of the muiiier into a plurality of communicating passageways through which gases and sound waves accompanying said gases pass, there being a centrally located passageway which receives gases and sound waves entering the mufiier, opposed intermediate passageways at opposite sides of said centrally located passageway, opposed outer passageways located outwardly of said intermediate passageways from one of which gases are discharged from the muiiler, and a connecting passageway which connects said outer passageways, the partition located between said centrally located passage-Way and one of said intermediate passageways, and the partition between the other of said intermediate passage- `ways and the outer passageway from which gases are discharged from the muler each having a multiplicity of apertures formed therethrough which are distributed over a substantial surface portion thereof and through which gases and accompanying sound Waves pass, and the partition between the other of said outer passageways and the adjacent intermediate passageway having apertures formed therethrough only adjacent to an end thereof, the arrangement and relation of said passageways and the disposition of the apertures of said apertured partitions being such that the direction of travel of gases and sound waves passing through the muiiler is repeatedly reverse 3. A muiller comprising an outer housing, and a plurality or vertically disposed partitions arranged within said outer housing which divide the interior of the muiiler into a plurality of communicating passageways through which gases and sound waves accompanying said gases pass and which are arranged side by side in the transverse direction of the muiiier, there being a centrally located passageway which receives gases and sound waves entering the muffler, opposed intermediate passageways at opposite sides of said centrally located passageway, opposed outer passageways located outwardly of said intermediate passageways from one of which gases are discharged from the muliler, and a connecting passageway which connects said outer passageways, the partition located between said centrally located passageway and one of said intermediate passageways, and the partition between the other of said intermediate passage- Ways and the outer passageway from which gases aredischargedfrom the muler each having a multiplicity off apertures formed therethrough which are distributed over a substantial surface portion thereof and through which gases and accompanying sound waves pass, and the partition between the other of said outer passageways and the adjacent intermediate passageway having apertures formed therethrough only adjacent to an end thereof, the arrangement and relation of said passageways and the disposition of the apertures of said apertured partitions being such that the direction of travel of gases and sound waves passing through the muiiler `is repeatedly reversed.

4. A muler comprising an outer housing, and a plurality of vertically disposed partitions arrangedv within said outer housing which divide the interior of the muiiier into a plurality of communicating passageways through which gases and sound waves accompanying said gases pass, there being a centrally located passageway which receives gases and sound Waves entering the mufller, opposed intermediate passageways at opposite sides of said centrally located passageway, opposed outer passageways located outwardly of saidintermediate passageways from one of which gasesV are discharged from the muiiier, and a connecting passageway which connects said outer passageways, the partition located between said centrally located passageway and one of said intermediate passageways, and the partition betweenthe other of said intermediate passageways and the outer passageway from which gases are discharged from the muiiler each having a multiplicity of` apertures formed therethrough which are distributed over a substantial surface portion thereof and through which gases and accompanying sound waves pass, and the partition between the other of said outer passageways and the adjacent intermediate passageway having apertures formed therethrough only adjacent to an endthereof, the arrangement and relation of said passageways and the disposition of the apertures of said apertured partitions being such that the direction of travel of gases and sound waves passing through the muffler is repeatedly reversed, and wall portions of said passageways being, exposed to atmosphere exterior of the mufiler whereby the exhaust impulses of gases passing through the passageways are cooled and weakened during passage of said gases through saidpassageways.

5. A muffler comprising an outer housing, and a plurality of vertically disposed partitions arranged within said outer housing which divide the interior of the muffler into a plurality of communicating passageways through which gases 4and soundwaves accompanying said gases pass and which areLv arranged side by side in the transverse direction of the muiiler, there being a centrally located passageway which receives gases and sound waves entering the muffler, opposed intermediate passageways at opposite sides of said centrally located passageway, opposed outer passageways located outwardly of said intermediate passageways from one of which gases are discharged from the muflier, and a connecting passageway which connects said outer passageways, the partition located between said centrally located passageway and one of said intermediate passageways, and the partition between the other of said intermediate passageways and the outer passageway from which gases are discharged from the muier each having a multiplicity of apertures formed therethrough which are distributed over a substantial'suriace portion thereofY and through which gases and accompanying sound waves pass, and the partition between the other of said outer passageways and the adjacent intermediate passageway having apertures formed therethrough only adjacent to an end thereof, the arrangement and relation of said passageways and the disposition of the apertures of said apertured partitions being such that the direction of travel of gases and sound waves passing through the muffler is repeatedly reversed, and wall portions of said passageways being exposed to atmosphere exterior of the muffler whereby the exhaust impulses of the gases passing through the passageways are cooled and weakened during passage of said gases through said passageways.

6. A muffler comprising an outer housing, and a plurality of vertically disposed partitions arranged within said outer housing which divide the interior of the mufiier into a plurality of communicating passageways through which gases and sound waves accompanying said gases pass and which are arranged side by side in the transverse direction of the muffler, there being a centrally located passageway which receives gases and sound waves entering the muiiler, opposed intermediate passageways at opposite sides of said centrally located passageway, opposed outerpassageways located outwardly of said intermediate passageways from one of which gases are discharged from the muffler, and a connecting passageway which connects said outer passageways, the partition located between said centrally located passageway and one ofsaid intermediate passageways, and the partition between the other of said intermediate passageways and the outer passageway from which gases are discharged from the muffler each having a multiplicity of apertures formed therethrough which are distributed over a substantial surface portion thereof and through which gases and accompanying sound waves pass, and the partition between the other of said outer passageways and the adjacent intermediate passageway having apertures formed therethrough only adjacent to an end thereof, the arrangement and relation of said passageways and the disposition of the apertures of said apertured partitions being such that the direc'- tion of travel of gases and sound waves passing through the muifler is repeatedly reversed, and wall portions of all of said passageways being exposed to atmosphere exterior of the muffler whereby the exhaust impulses of the gases passing through the p-assageways are cooled and weakened during passage of said gases through said passageways.

7. A muflier comprising an outer housing, and -a plurality of partitions arranged within said outer housing which divide the interior of the muier into a plurality of communicating passageways through which gases and sound waves accompanying said gases pass, there being a centrally located passageway which receives gases and sound waves entering the muffler, opposed intermediate passageways at opposite sides of said centrally located passageway, opposed outer passageways from one of which gases are discharged from the muiiier, and a connecting passageway which connects said outer passageways, the partition located between said centrally located passageway and one of said intermediate passageways, and the partition between the other of said intermediate passageways and the outer passageway from which gases are discharged from the muffler each having a multiplicity of apertures formed therethrough which are distributed over a substantial surface portion thereof and through which gases and accompanying sound waves pass, and the partition between the other of said outer passageways and the adjacent intermediate passageway having apertures formed therethrough only adjacent to an end thereof, the arrangement and relation of said passageways and the disposition of the apertures of said apertured partitions being such that the direction of travel of gases and sound waves passing through the muiiler is repeatedly reversed, and said gases and sound waves being divided into a great number of parts by passage thereof through said apertures and said divided parts being compelled to travel different distances after passing through said apertures to continue their passage through the muffler.

8. A muffler comprising an outer housing, and a plurality of partitions arranged within said outer housing whichV divide the interior of the muifler into a plurality of communicating passageways through which gases and sound waves accompanying said gases pass, there being a centrally located passageway which receives gases and sound waves entering the muiiier, opposed intermediate passageways at opposite sides of said centrally located passageway, opposed outer passageways located outwardly of said intermediate passageways from one of which gases are discharged from the muiiler, and -a :connecting passageway which connects said outer passageways, the partition located between said centrally 1ocated passageway and one of said intermediate passageways, and the partition between the other of said intermediate passageways and the outer passageway from which gases are discharged from the muiiier each having a multiplicity of staggered apertures formed therethrough which are distributed over a substantial surface portion thereof and through which gases and accompanying sound waves pass, and the partition between the other of said outer passageways and the adjacent intermediate passageway having apertures formed therethrough only adjacent to an end thereof, the arrangement and relation of said passageways and the disposition of the apertures of said apertured partitions being such that the direction of travel of gases and sound waves passing through the muffler is repeatedly reversed.

CARL PETERS.

REFERENCES CITED rlhe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Clawson May 11, 1926 

